My daughter is 5 and had an episode of choking/vomiting about 7 months ago. Still till this day she will try to eat but has flash backs of choking and refuses to eat. Day by day it is a struggle we are now going on 13 days of not eating and drinking is minimal. I call her doctor every few weeks and he says not to worry, she'll eat when shes hungry. I can understand not to worry maybe for a week or two but its 7 months and things are not getting better. I think its a bigger problem then he thinks. I have tried the "starve" her out approach she doesnt care. I have done the " no offering" and eat what we have. And still nothing. I have done the "no talking" about food. I have tried the bribe approach "you can have any toy, games, iPod (which she really wants) or go to amusement park or any restaurant of her choice and nothing. I have gotten to the point of telling her we will have to go to the hospital as a scare tactic and she opted that she rather go to the hospital and get 10 needles in her arms and a tube in her throat because she just can not eat food. I actually drove to the ER went in and she said i am scared but i can not eat food. lets get this over with and give me the needles. Really? what child would opt for that?And begged with a fearful look and said, Please Mommy please I can not eat. And she rather get needles then eat. Call me crazy but to me that doesn't sound like a child as the doctor puts it "looking for attention" . I am at my wits end. What can I do to help my child? I am truly scared.

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1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Refuses too eatMy daughter is 5 and had an episode of choking/vomiting about 7 months ago. Still till this day she will try to eat but has flash backs of choking and refuses to eat. Day by day it is a struggle we are now going on 13 days of not eating and drinking is minimal. I call her doctor every few weeks and he says not to worry, she'll eat when shes hungry. I can understand not to worry maybe for a week or two but its 7 months and things are not getting better. I think its a bigger problem then he thinks. I have tried the "starve" her out approach she doesnt care. I have done the " no offering" and eat what we have. And still nothing. I have done the "no talking" about food. I have tried the bribe approach "you can have any toy, games, iPod (which she really wants) or go to amusement park or any restaurant of her choice and nothing. I have gotten to the point of telling her we will have to go to the hospital as a scare tactic and she opted that she rather go to the hospital and get 10 needles in her arms and a tube in her throat because she just can not eat food. I actually drove to the ER went in and she said i am scared but i can not eat food. lets get this over with and give me the needles. Really? what child would opt for that?And begged with a fearful look and said, Please Mommy please I can not eat. And she rather get needles then eat. Call me crazy but to me that doesn't sound like a child as the doctor puts it "looking for attention" . I am at my wits end. What can I do to help my child? I am truly scared.

I have heard of a child doing this before - actually a friend of mine's daughter.

I think you are right to be concerned, and that's too bad the Dr. isn't really taking you serious.

This is a real issue, and is probably anxiety based - she is SO scared of choking, so scared that no matter what you say - it won't get her to eat.

I highly suggest you finding a really good "food therapist", or feeding therapist to work with your daughter. It may not be easy to find a "food therapist", but they are out there. Take your time, make phone calls, go talk to a center or a few Dr.s, then take your daughter in.

Here are a few links for you to get the idea of what you need to look for in your area.

I think you are right to be concerned, and that's too bad the Dr. isn't really taking you serious.

This is a real issue, and is probably anxiety based - she is SO scared of choking, so scared that no matter what you say - it won't get her to eat.

I highly suggest you finding a really good "food therapist", or feeding therapist to work with your daughter. It may not be easy to find a "food therapist", but they are out there. Take your time, make phone calls, go talk to a center or a few Dr.s, then take your daughter in.

Here are a few links for you to get the idea of what you need to look for in your area.

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